Improvement in knife-cleaners



H. c. GILBERT.

Knife-Cleaners.

Pate nted- M arch 18, 18 73.

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v .Qz -v I Wiinesses:

films/24 PATENT FICE.

HORACE C. GILBERT, on NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN KNIFE-CLEANERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 136,996, dated March 18, 1873'.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE 0. GILBERT, of New London, in the county of New London and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knife and Fork Cleaners and Polishers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which forms part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a cross-section through the box of the cleaner and polisher, giving a front view of the cleaning and polishing devices. Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Like letters in both figures of the drawing indicate like parts.

This invention relates to the class of knifecleaners having rubbing blocks and plates and posts and springs arranged and attached to a box; and the invention consists in providing the plates with books or their equivalents, in combination with a bar attached to the top of the posts, whereby the operator, by grasping the barand hook with his hand, can readily raise the plates and insert the emery or other polishing matter thereunder, as may be required, to facilitate the cleaning of the knife, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

A B are the blocks and C D are the plates, provided each with corks a b and c d. As the shape of the prongs of a fork issuch that they could not be cleaned to advantage on a plane or flat surfacethe same as that used ,for l nivesthe edges of, the corks c d are rounded on both sides so as to present an easy-rubbing surface to the prongs of the fork. The

plates C D are provided with holes large enough to fit and work freely upon the posts E E and F F, suitably attached to the blocks, coiled or spiral springs e e and ff being placed around the posts to give the plates the required press-v ure. The posts are all secured to the bar 9 at the top. The plates have a hook or staple, h, attached in the center of each,*whereby the operator by grasping the bar g, which is round ed on its upper edges to afford an easy grasp to the hand, and taking hold of the hook with his finger, can raise the plates and insert em- -ery or other appropriate material thereunder stead of cork, as may be preferred, the carpeting being fastened by metallic plates on both sides of the blocks and plates, the polisher devices being otherwise the same, as shown at H. The operation is as follows: The plates are raised by the hooks, in the manner as herein explained, and the emery or other cleaning material placed upon the corks of the blocks, and the knife or fork to be cleaned inserted between the corks and drawn rapidly back and forth till thoroughly cleaned. By a similar process the knife or fork is inserted between the plates of the polisher, and the polishing completed by a like movement. The base-box catches and retains the emery or other material as it falls from the corks while in use.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isp In a knife-cleaner having rubbing-blocks and plates with corks attached to each, in connection with posts and springs arranged and attached to a box, I claim the plates C D provided with the hooks h, in combination with the bar 9 attached to the top of the posts, sub

stantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

HORACE C. GILBERT.

Witnesses ANDERSON L. ORANDALL, RICHARD SQUIRES. 

